In Which Harry Heals And Pranks Are Played
Chapter 31:
Up in the bleachers Draco sat, curled around Harry, protecting his lover from the outside world. Harry had finally run out of tears and had his glasses in his pocket. The two sat silently, Draco stroking Harry's tousled hair. He pulled away slightly and wiped the tears from Harry's face. Harry smiled a watery smile.
"Why are you out here?" Harry asked, his voice rough from the tears. Draco cupped Harry's face in one hand.
"Because you're out here and you're hurting. How can I be anywhere else? What other reasons do I need?" Harry let out a short coughing laugh.
"Of course. Why else?" Harry said self-depreciatingly.
"Cause I love you. Cause I care more about you than anything else in the entire world. Cause I would do anything to keep you from harm, or pain, or tears." Harry's mouth twitched in a small smile. Draco seriously studied him for a moment. "Why are you out here, Harry? What hurts you so?" Harry snickered.
"Very eloquent."
"You're avoiding the question."
"I know." Harry took a deep breath. "Most of it is what happened last year, or at least what broke the camel's back, if you get what I mean. All that on top of fighting Voldemort every year, loosing my parents and my godfather, my muggle family that hates by guts and think I'm lower than slime, not to mention the OWLS and NEWTS and other tests and classes. Then there's the residual stuff from childhood; parentless and locked in a cupboard for 10 years before Hogwarts, having no friends until Ron and Hermione, nobody nice to me before Hagrid, no birthdays nor Christmases nor holidays, getting beat up on a regular basis…wow." He paused, "I just realized how much my life really does suck. I wonder sometimes why I haven't ended it all before now."
"Because you're a brave Gryffindor, who would never take the cowards way out." Harry made a face, but Draco continued, a little shocked. "You were locked in a cupboard for ten years?" Harry nodded.
"Yep. My first Hogwarts letter was addressed to "Mr. Harry Potter/Cupboard Under the Stairs/ 4 Privit Dr./ Ewing, Surrey. It's why I was such a small child, well, that and malnutrition. The fact that I was always wearing Dudley's old hand-me-downs didn't help either. Did you know that the first set of clothes that were mine first, and that fit me properly were my school robes?" Draco shook his head. He didn't know that. "Well, now you do." He fell silent for a moment, Draco just offering silent comfort.
"But that's not what has been haunting me. The older nightmares- my mum's death- I can deal with. I've had the time to learn to pretty much block those out. It's the others that bother me now; the resurrected Voldemort, the Dementors…Cedric. He froze me and made me watch as…" he couldn't go on, his throat closing up on his words. "I couldn't save him." He finally choked out in a whisper. Draco held him tighter.
"You said it yourself, Harry. You were frozen. There was noting you could have done. It's. Not. Your. Fault."
"I know that up here," Harry snapped, his grief turning to anger, his finger jabbing at his skull, "But here," he pointed to his heart, "Here doesn't know that, and it won't listen to reason." Draco smiled.
"The heart rarely does. Look who you fell for, after all." Harry laughed a little and as his trailed off his eyes got that faraway look to them. "All I could see was what was in front of me…Cedric and eventually a bubbling cauldron. Voldemort was there; my scar was hurting something awful. He was…some twisted cross of a snake and a baby. His voice was like icy knives as he started the incantation…then Wormtail…his hand…" He stopped again, then continued his voice oddly monotone. "They took blood, "blood from the enemy, forcefully taken." When it was all over I could feel the blood running down my arm, dripping. I was hit with Crucio, and I don't remember much besides pain and red. But he came over to me, and the pain was blinding me and he touched my face. He touched my face and he wasn't burned." He bit his lip.
"I think we're a part of each other now, even more so than before. My Parseltongue, my wand's core is from the same animal as his, even the Sorting Hat wanted me to be in Slytherin." He shuddered and not from the cold. "I'm the reason Voldemort is back," his voice was bleak, "I'm the reason my parents died. I'm why Cedric died." He once again broke into tears. Draco shook his head.
"You can't honestly think that Harry. What happened was not your fault." Harry laughed tersely.
"You know, when you say that, I almost can believe it."
"You better believe it because I would never lie to you. Never." Harry stared at Draco, his eyes uncovered by glasses. The green was a deep emerald darkened by shadows, but searching. They must have found what they were looking for in Draco's gray eyes because the emeralds suddenly sparkled, as if lit from within. "My green Stars!" thought Draco giddily as Harry finally came to accept that he wasn't to blame. He wasn't 100% better, not by a long start, and he might never be, but he was better than he'd been in ages.
In the Dungeons
Methos walked down the hall, unconsciously hugging the shadows. He tiredly rubbed his eyes with his hand. It had been a long day and he hadn't been able to think of a suitable counter-prank. He hoped Severus had thought of one. Thoughts of his lover mad him smile, even through his on exhaustion. He reached Severus' rooms and practically fell through the door.
Severus was sitting at his desk, but when Methos fell through the door, he jumped to his feet and half walked, half carried his lover to his chambers. He laid him down on the bed and Methos lay there with a contented sigh. Severus lied down next to him.
"You know what?" asked Methos, his eyes closed.
"What?" Asked Severus, his eyes similarly closed.
"I love you. I really do." Severus smiled.
"Good. Because the feeling is very mutual." They stayed like that for a moment before Methos covered his eyes with his arm.
"Any ideas?" Severus didn't need to be told what Methos was talking about. He knew.
"Yes actually."
"Oh."
"Yep," pause, "You want me to tell you?"
"Yes! Of course I do, I wouldn't have asked otherwise." Severus smirked.
"Oh here's what we do." He told Methos and he grinned evilly.
"Oh that's good. You are devious my dear."
"Of course I am. I am head of Slytherin house, after all." Severus grinned at Methos. Methos grinned back, then, as if cued by some hidden director , both jumped up to begin preparations.
Hogsmead
An owl flew in and Fred grabbed his bat, ready to strike. When he saw that it carried only a letter, however, he relaxed and put the bat away. He took the letter and gave the owl a treat before it took off.
"Hey George! Come in Here! We've got mail." George came in. still wearing his apron and goggles.
"Who's it from?"
"Pierson." George looked at his skeptically.
"Are you sure you want to open it up then?" Fred rolled his eyes.
"Honestly Fred, what harm can a letter cause? Besides, I already spell- checked it. Let's see what the old boy has to say." He opened the letter, which read:
Dear Fred and George,
I must congratulate you on your latest prank. I'm still finding bits of feather. The blue is almost gone as well, and my robes are once again black. I'm sure by now your store is back to its original color, the merchandise has returned to your shelves, and most of the glitter is gone. I want to extend my hand in friendship to you, the most excellent of pranksters. Though I must say that, as you read this, the vapors from the potion this parchment was dipped in are reacting with your skin. By the time you finish reading this letter, your skin will have turned entirely green. Touché Gemini. Valēte!
Adam Pierson
Fred dropped the letter like a hot coal and backed away. He looked at George, who stared back at him. He could feel the heat rising to his face in anger, and he knew his twin felt the same. His face was turning a nice shade of brown, for indeed, their skin was green.
"PIERSON!" The shout could be heard for blocks and effectively drowned out Pierson's magical laughter.
TBC.
Eh? Eh? You like? You like? Tell ME! Review!
Sorry that took so long. It was one thing after another and I still have very little time to write. School has started again, which is why this was finished (In Geometry and Chemistry believe it or not) I want to thank all of you who have reviewed. It's getting to be too much to respond to all of them like I have been, there are so many of you. So unless something stands out or a question is asked, I probably won't respond. I do, however, read and love them all.
Tea – I am going to bring in more Highlander characters, but not until the direct sequel, which is the first of the summer stories, "Schools Out For Summer." I have it planed out and will begin when this story is done. Richie will appear…I'm just not sure when.
AlmightyTuba – love the cons. I know I am. I'm proud, Damnit!
Lady Cinnibar – Mission Successful! I have awed my most loyal of reviewers. And stunned to silences…damn I'm good…can't wait for more of your story as well!
D'Bear – Yeah…I, um, get that a lot. I know my spelling needs work. So does my grammar…and puncuation…my mother blames my kindergarten and 1st grade teachers…they emphasized creativity, not grammar…then she turns around and says it's because I'm lazy. Eh, whatever. I'm glad you liked this. More to come!
All right. Next stop, CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Chapter 31:
Up in the bleachers Draco sat, curled around Harry, protecting his lover from the outside world. Harry had finally run out of tears and had his glasses in his pocket. The two sat silently, Draco stroking Harry's tousled hair. He pulled away slightly and wiped the tears from Harry's face. Harry smiled a watery smile.
"Why are you out here?" Harry asked, his voice rough from the tears. Draco cupped Harry's face in one hand.
"Because you're out here and you're hurting. How can I be anywhere else? What other reasons do I need?" Harry let out a short coughing laugh.
"Of course. Why else?" Harry said self-depreciatingly.
"Cause I love you. Cause I care more about you than anything else in the entire world. Cause I would do anything to keep you from harm, or pain, or tears." Harry's mouth twitched in a small smile. Draco seriously studied him for a moment. "Why are you out here, Harry? What hurts you so?" Harry snickered.
"Very eloquent."
"You're avoiding the question."
"I know." Harry took a deep breath. "Most of it is what happened last year, or at least what broke the camel's back, if you get what I mean. All that on top of fighting Voldemort every year, loosing my parents and my godfather, my muggle family that hates by guts and think I'm lower than slime, not to mention the OWLS and NEWTS and other tests and classes. Then there's the residual stuff from childhood; parentless and locked in a cupboard for 10 years before Hogwarts, having no friends until Ron and Hermione, nobody nice to me before Hagrid, no birthdays nor Christmases nor holidays, getting beat up on a regular basis…wow." He paused, "I just realized how much my life really does suck. I wonder sometimes why I haven't ended it all before now."
"Because you're a brave Gryffindor, who would never take the cowards way out." Harry made a face, but Draco continued, a little shocked. "You were locked in a cupboard for ten years?" Harry nodded.
"Yep. My first Hogwarts letter was addressed to "Mr. Harry Potter/Cupboard Under the Stairs/ 4 Privit Dr./ Ewing, Surrey. It's why I was such a small child, well, that and malnutrition. The fact that I was always wearing Dudley's old hand-me-downs didn't help either. Did you know that the first set of clothes that were mine first, and that fit me properly were my school robes?" Draco shook his head. He didn't know that. "Well, now you do." He fell silent for a moment, Draco just offering silent comfort.
"But that's not what has been haunting me. The older nightmares- my mum's death- I can deal with. I've had the time to learn to pretty much block those out. It's the others that bother me now; the resurrected Voldemort, the Dementors…Cedric. He froze me and made me watch as…" he couldn't go on, his throat closing up on his words. "I couldn't save him." He finally choked out in a whisper. Draco held him tighter.
"You said it yourself, Harry. You were frozen. There was noting you could have done. It's. Not. Your. Fault."
"I know that up here," Harry snapped, his grief turning to anger, his finger jabbing at his skull, "But here," he pointed to his heart, "Here doesn't know that, and it won't listen to reason." Draco smiled.
"The heart rarely does. Look who you fell for, after all." Harry laughed a little and as his trailed off his eyes got that faraway look to them. "All I could see was what was in front of me…Cedric and eventually a bubbling cauldron. Voldemort was there; my scar was hurting something awful. He was…some twisted cross of a snake and a baby. His voice was like icy knives as he started the incantation…then Wormtail…his hand…" He stopped again, then continued his voice oddly monotone. "They took blood, "blood from the enemy, forcefully taken." When it was all over I could feel the blood running down my arm, dripping. I was hit with Crucio, and I don't remember much besides pain and red. But he came over to me, and the pain was blinding me and he touched my face. He touched my face and he wasn't burned." He bit his lip.
"I think we're a part of each other now, even more so than before. My Parseltongue, my wand's core is from the same animal as his, even the Sorting Hat wanted me to be in Slytherin." He shuddered and not from the cold. "I'm the reason Voldemort is back," his voice was bleak, "I'm the reason my parents died. I'm why Cedric died." He once again broke into tears. Draco shook his head.
"You can't honestly think that Harry. What happened was not your fault." Harry laughed tersely.
"You know, when you say that, I almost can believe it."
"You better believe it because I would never lie to you. Never." Harry stared at Draco, his eyes uncovered by glasses. The green was a deep emerald darkened by shadows, but searching. They must have found what they were looking for in Draco's gray eyes because the emeralds suddenly sparkled, as if lit from within. "My green Stars!" thought Draco giddily as Harry finally came to accept that he wasn't to blame. He wasn't 100% better, not by a long start, and he might never be, but he was better than he'd been in ages.
In the Dungeons
Methos walked down the hall, unconsciously hugging the shadows. He tiredly rubbed his eyes with his hand. It had been a long day and he hadn't been able to think of a suitable counter-prank. He hoped Severus had thought of one. Thoughts of his lover mad him smile, even through his on exhaustion. He reached Severus' rooms and practically fell through the door.
Severus was sitting at his desk, but when Methos fell through the door, he jumped to his feet and half walked, half carried his lover to his chambers. He laid him down on the bed and Methos lay there with a contented sigh. Severus lied down next to him.
"You know what?" asked Methos, his eyes closed.
"What?" Asked Severus, his eyes similarly closed.
"I love you. I really do." Severus smiled.
"Good. Because the feeling is very mutual." They stayed like that for a moment before Methos covered his eyes with his arm.
"Any ideas?" Severus didn't need to be told what Methos was talking about. He knew.
"Yes actually."
"Oh."
"Yep," pause, "You want me to tell you?"
"Yes! Of course I do, I wouldn't have asked otherwise." Severus smirked.
"Oh here's what we do." He told Methos and he grinned evilly.
"Oh that's good. You are devious my dear."
"Of course I am. I am head of Slytherin house, after all." Severus grinned at Methos. Methos grinned back, then, as if cued by some hidden director , both jumped up to begin preparations.
Hogsmead
An owl flew in and Fred grabbed his bat, ready to strike. When he saw that it carried only a letter, however, he relaxed and put the bat away. He took the letter and gave the owl a treat before it took off.
"Hey George! Come in Here! We've got mail." George came in. still wearing his apron and goggles.
"Who's it from?"
"Pierson." George looked at his skeptically.
"Are you sure you want to open it up then?" Fred rolled his eyes.
"Honestly Fred, what harm can a letter cause? Besides, I already spell- checked it. Let's see what the old boy has to say." He opened the letter, which read:
Dear Fred and George,
I must congratulate you on your latest prank. I'm still finding bits of feather. The blue is almost gone as well, and my robes are once again black. I'm sure by now your store is back to its original color, the merchandise has returned to your shelves, and most of the glitter is gone. I want to extend my hand in friendship to you, the most excellent of pranksters. Though I must say that, as you read this, the vapors from the potion this parchment was dipped in are reacting with your skin. By the time you finish reading this letter, your skin will have turned entirely green. Touché Gemini. Valēte!
Adam Pierson
Fred dropped the letter like a hot coal and backed away. He looked at George, who stared back at him. He could feel the heat rising to his face in anger, and he knew his twin felt the same. His face was turning a nice shade of brown, for indeed, their skin was green.
"PIERSON!" The shout could be heard for blocks and effectively drowned out Pierson's magical laughter.
TBC.
Eh? Eh? You like? You like? Tell ME! Review!
Sorry that took so long. It was one thing after another and I still have very little time to write. School has started again, which is why this was finished (In Geometry and Chemistry believe it or not) I want to thank all of you who have reviewed. It's getting to be too much to respond to all of them like I have been, there are so many of you. So unless something stands out or a question is asked, I probably won't respond. I do, however, read and love them all.
Tea – I am going to bring in more Highlander characters, but not until the direct sequel, which is the first of the summer stories, "Schools Out For Summer." I have it planed out and will begin when this story is done. Richie will appear…I'm just not sure when.
AlmightyTuba – love the cons. I know I am. I'm proud, Damnit!
Lady Cinnibar – Mission Successful! I have awed my most loyal of reviewers. And stunned to silences…damn I'm good…can't wait for more of your story as well!
D'Bear – Yeah…I, um, get that a lot. I know my spelling needs work. So does my grammar…and puncuation…my mother blames my kindergarten and 1st grade teachers…they emphasized creativity, not grammar…then she turns around and says it's because I'm lazy. Eh, whatever. I'm glad you liked this. More to come!
All right. Next stop, CHRISTMAS!!!!!